Tack hammer



J \ih g 1 A. M. TAYLOR 2,425,494

' TACK HAMMER Filed May 2, 1945 IIII l:

' uvvsmon A.M. 'DXYLOB.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1947 TACK HAlWlVIER August M. Taylor, Clarendon, Tex., assignor of one-half to E. F. Smith, Clarendon, Tex.

Application May 2, 1945, Serial No. 591,527

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in magazine hammers and has reference more particularly to hammers of this type designed for use with tacks of different sizes, as, for example, with tacks of the kind usually referred to as car: pet tacks.

Tacks are used in many different places and the operation of setting racks and driving the same is greatly retarded where the operator must handle each tack with his fingers.

It is quite customary for upholsterers, carpet layers and others, who use a large number of tacks, to keep the tacks in the mouth, and transfer one at a time to their fingers. However, this is an art that must be learned and besides, it involves the danger of accidentally swallowing a tack.

It is an object of this invention to produce a simple and substantial tack hammer that is provided with a removable magazine that can be quickly replaced when empty, by one that has been filled with tacks, thereby expediting the operation of keeping the hammer in loaded condition.

Another object of the invention is to produce a tack hammer in which the tacks are held in position for driving by means of a magnet which magnet greatly simplifies the construction and improves the operation.

Another object of the invention is to produce a tack hammer in which one end of the hammer head can be used for setting the tacks and the other for driving them, and which shall be provided with means for latching the parts in order to prevent tacks from being expelled during the driving operation.

Another object of the invention is to produce a magazine of a novel construction that can be easily loaded and which is provided with a spring mechanism for automatically feeding the tacks to the hammer.

A still further object of this invention is to provide tacks of a specific construction which can be manufactured in strips, each containing any number of tacks joined by a readily breakable connector.

Having thus briefly described the invention and its object, the same will now be described in detail and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention, portions thereof being shown in sections and other portions broken away to better disclose the construction;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the magazine, parts being broken away to disclose the construction;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a tack assembly;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the tacks shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the hammer.

In the drawing reference numeral Ill designates a handle which may be of Wood, metal or any other suitable material. The handle has been shown as formed from a solid piece, but it may be hollow, if so desired. A hammer head II is attached to the end of the handle as shown in Figures 1 and 6. The hammer has been shown as cylindrical, which is believed to be the desirable cross section, but it can, of course, be made of any other suitable cross section. Telescopically connected with the hammer head is a sleeve 12, having the end 13 solid and provided with a central opening M of a diameter slightly greater than that of the heads of the tacks.

Secured to the hammer head and extending downwardly therefrom, is a cylindrical permanent magnet i5. This magnet may be made of the magnetic material known to the trade as Alinco. The lower end of this magnet has been indicated by N which stands for north pole, but it is, of course, immaterial whether the north or the south pole is at the bottom. The magnet extends through the end portion i3 of the sleeve and the latter must be made of a nonmagnetic material, such as brass, aluminum or any other alloy, because if iron were used the magnetic flux would be short circuited and the attractive effort of the magnet would be greatly diminished. The central opening it is in communication with the outside by means of a slot it of a width sufficient to permit the tapered body 26 of the tack to pass into opening I4. The sleeve has one side provided with a notch ii for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Referring now to Figure 6, it will be seen that sleeve i2 has an elongated opening IS in which the screw I9 is positioned. Screw 59 serves to limit the telescopic movement of the sleeve with respect to the hammer head H. The sleeve is also provided with a notch or cut-out 2!] for receiving the narrow end 2| of the handle when the sleeve is moved upwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figures 1 and 6. A spring 22 is positioned between the lower end of the hammer head and the upper surface 23 of the end part it of the sleeve. This spring tends to move the sleeve downwardly as far as the screw 19 will permit it to go. The upper end of the spring is separated from the lower end of the handle by means of a felt washer 24 and a metal washer 25. When the upper end of the hammer head is used for driving a tack, it is evident that some means must be provided to hold the sleeve from movement and for this purpose a stop 26 has been provided which extends entirely through ure 1, the sleeve will remain stationary while the.

It is evident that hammer head is employed.

if the stop 26, or some equivalent means were not provided, a tack would be discharged through opening M at each stroke.

The tacks, which have been designated by reference numeral 29, are arranged in a magazine which has been designated in its entirety by reierence numeral 39. This magazine, in its present embodiment, is formed by an elongated tubular-housing having a cross section resembling that of 'a truncated isosceles triangle; the bottom has been designated by reference numeral 3|,the sides b reference numeral 32 and the top by reference numeral 33. Secured to the opposite inner surfaces of the sides are guide channels 34. These guides are made from sheet metal bent into a U-shaped cross section and secured to the sides by welding or by soldering. The guides are spaced apart and the channels are opposed in such a way that they will receive the heads 35 of the tacks. The upper flanges of the guide channels are spaced a short distance from the under surface of the top 33 and 4 tion of the magazineand to the fact that this can be readily removed and replaced by simply removing the pivot 48'. If two or more magazines are used, one can be filled While the other .is being used and lots of time thereby saved.

One of the U-shaped guides is provided near its upper end with a notch, like that indicated by reference numeral t2, for the purpose of hold- .ingthe steeltape during the loading operation. 'The tacks can be inserted from the end adjacent the sleeve.

When the sleeve is in position the hook or end 31 is released, whereupon the spring functions to urge the tacks downwardly.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A magazine tack hammer comprising, a

, handle, a hammer head attached to one end thereof, a sleeve telescopicallyconnected with one end of the head, means limiting the relative 'i exterior through a radial slot, a permanent bar positioned in this space is a steel ribbon 35. The

upper end of this ribbon is bent downwardly as indicated by reference numeral 37 in Figure 3 and extends downwardly between the two guide channels 34. The end 31 engages the head of the last tack in the row. The lower end of ribbon is connected with a drum 38 that is acted upon by a spring which tends torotate the drum in a direction to wind the tape onto the drum. This construction is similar to that now used in connection with steel measuring tapes or with ordinary fabric tapes that are extensively used and sold. The lower end of the magazine has a projection 39 that extends into the opening I! and the upper end is pivotally connected with the handle by means of a screw or. pin M1. The con nection of the lower end with thetelescopic sleeve is such that it permits the sleeve to move from full line to dotted line position. The parts are normally in theposition shown in Figure 1 and in this position the channels in the guides open in alignment with slots or grooves 42 that direct the head of the tack into a position directly beneath the magnet. Any tack that is moved into position will be held by the magnet until it is set in the wood or floor to which the parts are to be attached. When the stop 26 is withdrawn and. with the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, if the operator strikes a blow in which the lower end of the sleeve is brought to a sudden stopby the engagement of the floor or other stationary article, the momentum of the hammer head and attached parts will compress the spring 22 and drive the tack into the wood a sufiicient distance,

7 tack; .CEf the tacks are to be driven by the same tool, the stop 26 is moved outwardly, whereupon the upper end of the hammer head canbe used for driving the tacks or for any purpose 'for which a hammer can be employed.

Particular attention iscalled to the construcmagnet attached to the hammer head in position to pass through the central opening when the sleeve is moved against the action of the'spring, and a tack feeding magazine comprising, an elongated, hollow member having one end pivotally connected with the handle and the other end movably connected with the sleeve. 1

2. A magazine tack hammer in accordance with claim 1 in which the hammer head is provided with a transverse opening, a stop element slidable ative position.

3. A magazine tack hammer comprising, a

handle, a hammer head attached to one end.

thereof, a sleeve telescopically connected with one end of the head, means limiting the relative '1. sliding movement of the sleeve and the 'head,

means comprising a spring for urging the sleeve outwardly, the end of the sleeve having a central opening .in communication with the exterior through a radial slot, a bar. attached to the hammer head in position to pass through the central opening when the sleeve is'movedagainst the" action of the spring, a tack feeding mechanism comprising an elongated, substantially tubular member having its end pivotally connected with relative movement in the direction of the length of the tubular member, and means for holding a tack in operative engagement with the lower end of the bar. 7 Y g AUGUST TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date" 1,162,678 Boden Nov. 30, 1915 1,198,575 Polach Sept. 19, 191(5 1,687,871 Maynard Oct. 16, 1923 857,839 Sherman June 25, 1907 987,024 Sturtevant Mar. 14, 1911 1,146,105

Sabelman July 13, 1915 

